Legendary Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo has unveiled a new single titled Aye Kan, teaming up with Nigerian star Ayra Starr as she builds momentum toward her upcoming album HOPE!!.
The track arrives alongside an official music video, set within a studio environment and driven by a simple, performance-focused concept. It’s a collaboration that feels natural, bringing together two artists whose musical roots and influences intersect across generations.
Aye Kan will feature on HOPE!!, Kidjo’s forthcoming album scheduled for release on April 24. The project follows her Grammy-winning 2021 album, Mother Nature, and is expected to feature a wide range of international collaborators, including Pharrell Williams, Quavo, Davido, and Nile Rodgers.
The partnership between Kidjo and Ayra Starr didn’t happen overnight. According to Starr, Kidjo has long been an inspiration to her, especially after witnessing her early global success.
“Angélique Kidjo winning in 2008 was so important for me to see… She’s from the Benin Republic, which is where I was born, so it made me believe I could do the same thing one day,” she said.
Kidjo, on her part, revealed that she made the first move after coming across Starr’s music and being impressed by her artistry.
“I discovered Ayra Starr first through her music… Later, I sent her a DM saying I’d love to work with her,” she said.
The upcoming album HOPE!! is described as a 16-track body of work dedicated to Kidjo’s late mother, blending different sounds and collaborations across genres. It also features contributions from a range of global producers.
Sharing the deeper message behind the project, Kidjo reflected on the state of the world and the need for optimism:
“Sometimes it feels as though the world is losing hope at such a rapid pace that it’s endangering our humanity. With all the music that I create, I want to show that anything and everything is possible… we are all deeply connected.”
With Aye Kan now out, the rollout for HOPE!! is officially in motion, giving fans an early taste of what promises to be a powerful and globally inspired project.
Listen to “Aye Kan” HERE